MANILA, Philippines - At least 17 or majority of the country’s 30 villages with lowest literacy rate (LLR) are found in Mindanao with nine of them occupying the Top 10 . This was revealed by the Department of Education (DepEd) Literacy Coordinating Council (LCC) based on latest statistical report it recently received from the Department of Interior and Local Government (DILG). DepEd LCC Secretariat head Norma Salcedo said the first three barangays listed in the Top 10 with the LLR are located in the town of Sagay, Misamis Oriental, namely, Matampa, Alipuaton, and Bunal which recorded a Basic Literacy Rate (BLR) of 30.4, 32.9 and 44.8, respectively. Salcedo listed the six other Mindanao villages in the Top 10 as Nanga-Nangan of Tigbao, Zamboanga del Sur (ZdS) which had a BLR of 55.2; Pindalonan of Munai, Lanao del Norte (LdN), 56.3; Dansalan of Sapad, LdN, 65.1; Mate of Tigbao, ZdS, 65.6; Dioyo of Sapang Dalaga, Misamis Occidental (MisOcc), 72; and Bubonga Rapadan of Pantao Ragat, LdN, 72.3. La Union’s barangay Cardiz in Bagulin emerged sixth lowest with a BLR of 64.3, Salcedo quoted the DILG report. Eight more Mindanao villages were listed in the country’s 30 barangays with LLR, according to Salcedo.